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Prediction of First Year Grades at Occidental College

Author(s):
Educational Testing Service
Publication Year:
1950
Report Number:
RB-50-43
Source:
ETS Research Bulletin
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
12
Subject/Key Words:
Aptitude Tests, College Entrance Examinations, Grade Point Average (GPA), Grade Prediction, Predictive Validity, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of several test batteries and secondary school grades in the prediction of academic success at Occidental College and to evaluate their possible use for English placement. The results of the study indicate that the Scholastic Aptitude Test of the College Entrance Examination Board has satisfactory validity as a predictor of success at Occidental College. The recommended combination of predictors for admission to Occidental is: Scholastic Aptitude Test, Verbal and Mathematical scores, and High School Record. Together they yield a multiple correlation coefficient with first year college grades of .61. An alternative admissions battery is composed of: ACE Psychological Examination, Quantitative and Linguistic scores, and High School Record. The multiple correlation with first year college grades for these predictors is .54. The low validities observed for High School Record draws attention to the need of more precise measures if full use is to be made of this potentially valuable predictor. The validities are relatively low as compared with findings in other comparable studies. It is felt that higher validities for this predictor would result if rank-in-class or grade-point averages were obtained.

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